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1. BYU keeps rollin':
BYU beat Gonzaga in a huge game for the Cougars' NCAA tournament chances last Thursday night. With a crowd of almost 20,000, it was as electric as the Marriott Center can possibly get. BYU got off to a hot start early, then the Zags came storming back. BYU edged Gonzaga out in the end to win 73-65 and beat the #25 Gonzaga Bulldogs. BYU has a firm grip on 2nd place in the WCC. BYU is guaranteed a 1, 2, or 3 seed going into the WCC tourney. The 1-6 seeds get 1st round byes, which is good considering BYU can be well rested and prepared for their 1st opponent. BYU then went onto get revenge vs. Portland. Bobby Sharp was "dull" this time around. Matt Carlino dropped eight 3-pointers to finish with 30 points and four steals. He tied for the 2nd most 3-pointers in a game all-time at BYU. He also leads the WCC in steals. BYU is now 20-10, marking the 9th season in a row BYU has had 20 or more wins in a season, a feat that has happened every season with Coach Rose at the helm.
2. Winder Emerging:
Anson Winder has really stepped into his own the last couple games. He went a perfect 10 of 10 at the free throw line against Gonzaga and had a game high 17 points to beat the ranked Bulldogs. He followed that heroic performance up with 19 points, going a perfect 4 of 4 from the line. Winder makes BYU a much better team. He is a great defender, and with his recent offensive performances, gives BYU an X-factor. Winder is peaking at the right time, and I look forward to seeing him build upon his recent success. His confidence has to be sky high right now, so look for him to be an X-factor for BYU, outside of our normal reliance upon Haws, Collinsworth, and Carlino.
3. Goin' Dancin'?
Did BYU punch their ticket to the Big Dance with a win over St. Mary's on the road and at home against Gonzaga? Also the wins against Texas and Stanford? BYU fans sure hope so. Joe Lunardi, the brains behind Bracketology, as of today has BYU as an 11 seed in the tourney, just barely avoiding the 12 seed play-in game as part of the First Four that was implementing a couple years back. Jerry Palm on the other hand has BYU just barely becoming the last four in. He said with the win against Gonzaga, BYU just played themselves into the bubble. So who is right and who is wrong? It won't matter if BYU loses at San Diego this Saturday. Every game from here on out is a must win, especially the next three games to get to the field of 68.
4. Football, Football, Football:
Spring football is just over a week away! For those of you who miss football, I sure do, we will get our fix. Are BYU's new receivers all they're cracked up to be? What will our O-Line and D-Line look like? Who will be our field goal kicker? Such questions will be somewhat answered and addressed in Spring Ball. Every Cougar fan needs to set aside time to, at the very least, make it to the Spring Game to see what BYU will somewhat look like come this Fall. 2014 has the makings of a special season, it all starts in spring. Champions aren't made on game days, they are made in Spring and Fall practice.
Your turn:
1. Is Rose already the best coach in BYU basketball history?
2. Will Anson Winder continue his hot streak? Why didn't he get more minutes earlier in the season?
3. How far into the WCC tournament does BYU need to advance to make the NCAA tournament?
4. Football, Football, Football. Insert anything football in the comments section below and we'll give you a shoutout on Twitter.
#GoCougs! @joshcannwrites